Israel's Supreme Court has restored two Arab parties to the ballot for the October 27 general election, a move that could impact the country's political landscape. The United Arab List and another Arab party were initially disqualified by an electoral committee of MPs in September. However, the Supreme Court unanimously overruled the decision, allowing the parties to participate in the election. This development may influence the formation of alliances and the overall outcome of the election.
The United Arab List made history in the 2021 election by becoming the first Arab party to join an Israeli government. The party was part of a disparate coalition that briefly removed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from power. The list's leader, Mansour Abbas, is a moderate Islamist and former dentist. The party's inclusion in the current election, along with a Jewish Zionist candidate, Yoav Segalovitz, may make it easier for Netanyahu's rivals to forge an alliance with Raam.
The Supreme Court also reinstated the candidacy of Ofer Cassif, a far-left Jewish MP and a relentless critic of Israel's treatment of Palestinians. The justices voted 7-2 in favor of Cassif's reinstatement. The two dissenting justices argued that Cassif supported "armed struggle against the state of Israel," which is grounds for disqualification. This decision may have implications for the representation of left-wing voices in the Israeli parliament.
The case to disqualify Sami Abu Shehadeh, who heads the left-wing Palestinian Balad Party, relied on an article he wrote after Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023. Abu Shehadeh described the attack as an "important historical event," but denied that he was supporting the attack. He withdrew his candidacy shortly after a hearing, citing concerns about the potential consequences of a court-ordered removal.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a far-right ally of Netanyahu, led the charge against Abu Shehadeh and welcomed the initial decision to disqualify him. Ben Gvir described the exclusion as "a tremendous victory," although he expressed disappointment that the Supreme Court did not directly rule against Abu Shehadeh. This development highlights the ongoing tensions between different factions in Israeli politics.
Arab-Israelis, descendants of Palestinians who fled or were forced out in 1948, make up about 20 percent of Israel's population. Most identify as Palestinians and have historically stayed out of Israeli coalition politics. The United Arab List's decision to run a Jewish Zionist candidate, Yoav Segalovitz, may help bridge this gap and create new opportunities for alliances between Arab and Jewish parties.
Adalah, an advocacy group for the rights of Israeli Arabs, criticized the disqualification bid as an attempt "to delegitimise Palestinian citizens and their parliamentary representatives and to turn racism against Palestinians into electoral propaganda." The Supreme Court's decision to restore the Arab parties to the ballot has been seen as a significant development in the lead-up to the election, which is set to take place on October 27.
Key points
- The Supreme Court's decision allows two Arab parties and a far-left Jewish MP to participate in the October 27 general election.
- The United Arab List's inclusion in the election may make it easier for Netanyahu's rivals to forge an alliance with the party.
- The decision highlights ongoing tensions between different factions in Israeli politics and the complexities of representation for Arab-Israelis.
